Title
Different mechanisms to explain the reversed effects of mental health on work characteristics
Author
de Lange, A.H.
Taris, T.W.
Kompier, M.A.J.
Houtman, I.L.D.
Bongers, P.M.
Publication year
2005
Abstract
Objectives: The number of longitudinal studies reporting evidence for reversed effects of strain on work is growing, but evidence regarding the mechanisms underlying such effects is scarce. In this study, earlier longitudinal findings were reviewed, and the following four mechanisms for reversed effects were proposed that reflect within-person or environmental changes: (i) the rosy perception mechanism, (ii) the gloomy perception mechanism, (iii) the upward selection mechanism, and (iv) the drift mechanism. Methods: These mechanisms were tested using s tructural equation modeling and longitudinal data from a Dutch four-phase study (N=1588 participants). Results: The results revealed that work characteristics and mental health influenced each other reciprocally and longitudinally. The reversed effects were examined in more detail, and it was found that these could be accounted for by both within-person and environmental change mechanisms. The rosy perception mechanism was found to explain the positive effects from health on job demands; the upward selection mechanism explained the positive (environmental) effects from health on job control; the gloomy perception mechanism explained the reversed (evaluation) effects from health on supervisory social support. No support was found for the drift mechanism. Conclusions: Mechanisms that may explain reversed causation are yet poorly understood. The main contribution of the present study lies in the fact that it proposes (i) a conceptual framework with which to analyze the effects of health on work characteristics and (ii) methods for testing these mechanisms. The study revealed that there is good reason to pursue research on reversed causality. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Subject
Veilig en Gezond Werken
Werkomstandigheden
Werkomgeving
Arbeidsomstandigheden
Modellenonderzoek
Nederland
Stress
Geestelijke overbelasting
Psychische arbeidsbelasting
Geestelijke gezondheid
Geestelijke volksgezondheid Drift mechanism
Gloomy perception mechanism
Research, longitudinal
Reversed causation
Rosy perception mechanism
Upward selection mechanism
Controlled study
Data analysis
Environmental change
Netherlands
Review
Social support
Statistical model
Adult
Age Factors
Causality
Cohort Studies
Educational Status
Female
Health Status
Humans
Internal-External Control
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health
Occupational Health
Perception
Sex Factors
Work
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:34f3d856-cf66-46ff-97c2-72dc2376eb4a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.843
TNO identifier
238319
ISSN
0355-3140
Source
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 31 (31), 3-14
Document type
article